Cumberland Contra

Cumberland ContraSource:
Composed by John Sweeney, based on Cumberland Square Eight, using all the figures in a contra dance.Formation:
Contra; Improper; Double Progression - 64 bars

A1

#1s Gallop Down & Back

A2

#2s Gallop Up & Back

B1

Basket - open out into a circle

B2

Circle Left
Circle Right - use the circles to reorientate the set - optionally use slip circles to use up more energy

C1

Neighbour Dosido
Two Changes of a Grand Right & Left around the WHOLE set:
Neighbour Pull By Right; New Neighbour Pull By Left
This is the Double Progression - Pull By your Partner at the ends - no-one is ever out - Keep moving forwards to make the Star

C2

With Next New Neighbours: Star Right; Star Left - skip it round to use more energy

D1

This Neighbour Balance & Swing

D2

Long Lines Go Forward & Back - Men Roll the Ladies Away with a Half Sashay from Right to Left
#1s Swing - finish facing down in Ballroom Hold ready to Gallop

Music:
Any reels, jigs or polkas will do, but the dance is intended to give the feel of Cumberland Square Eight. You can hear Ashley Hutchings and friends
playing for the original dance on "Kickin' Up the Sawdust".

Notes:
No room at the end of the set for the gallop? Turn left and go round the edge of the room (Lady on the outside).

To gallop back just turn your heads - don't mess around with arm/body positions.

Basket: Get close together; the men put their arms around the ladies' waists and one grips the other's wrists;
the ladies put their arms on the nearest shoulders (get them to put them straight up in the air then lower
them onto the NEAREST shoulder when teaching). Put your right foot in and everyone does a buzz-step to spin the basket.
Baskets only ever go clockwise.